[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2109-2110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-562]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request Form FNS-798 and FNS-798A, WIC Financial Management and 
Participation Report With Addendum

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this 
notice announces the Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) intention to 
request an extension for a currently approved information collection, 
the WIC Financial Management and Participation Report with Addendum.

DATES: Comments on this notice must be received by March 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology. Comments may be sent to: 
Patricia N. Daniels, Director, Supplemental Food Programs Division, 
Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park 
Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302.
    All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the 
request for OMB approval, and will become a matter of public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection form and instructions should be 
directed to: Patricia N. Daniels, (703) 305-2749.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: WIC Financial Management and 
Participation Report with Addendum.
    OMB Number: 0584-0045.
    Expiration Date: 07-31-2005.
    Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection Form.
    Abstract: Section 17(f)(4) of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1786(f)(4)) provides that ``State agencies shall submit monthly 
financial reports and participation data to the Secretary'' (See also 7 
CFR 246.25(b)(1)). The WIC Financial Management and Participation 
Report with Addendum (FNS-798 and FNS-798A) are the forms State 
agencies complete to comply with this requirement. FNS and State 
agencies use the reported information for program monitoring, funds 
management, budget projections, monitoring caseload, policy 
development, and responding to requests from Congress and interested 
parties.
    In addition, nonentitlement programs, such as the WIC Program, are 
required to conduct an annual closeout and reconciliation of grants. 
Departmental regulations at 7 CFR 3016.23(b) require that ``[a] grantee 
must liquidate all obligations incurred under the award not later than 
90 days after the end of the funding period (or as specified in a 
program regulation) to coincide with the submission of the annual 
Financial Status Report (SF-269).'' WIC Program regulations at 7 CFR 
246.17(b)(2) instruct State agencies to ``submit to FNS, within 150 
days after the end of the fiscal year, final fiscal year closeout 
reports.'' The final WIC Financial Management and Participation Report 
(FNS-798) submitted for the year with its addendum (FNS-798A) are used 
as a substitute for the SF-269, because they maintain the integrity of 
WIC's two grant components (food and nutrition services and 
administration (NSA)) as well as the four NSA grant components (program 
management, client services, nutrition education, and breastfeeding 
promotion and support).

[[Page 2110]]

    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 3.115 hours per response, including 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. The total annual burden on respondents 
was previously 4,660.04 hours. This extension includes an adjustment 
that adds one respondent which increases the total annual burden by 
52.96 hours.
    Respondents: Directors or Administrators of WIC State agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 89 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: Seventeen.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 4,713 hours.

    Dated: January 5, 2005.
Roberto Salazar,
Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 05-562 Filed 1-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P